NCJ Number
185839
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 64 Issue: 2 Dated: June 2000 Pages: 60-61
Date Published
June 2000
Length
2 pages
Annotation
The use of computers and Internet technology is producing many changes in the criminal justice system and new types of crimes and resources for criminals; technological innovations also raise controversies regarding privacy, government tracking of citizen records, and access to public records.
Abstract
Recent technological innovations in criminal justice include shared access to database resources, the use of wireless technologies, police agency web pages, and computerized fingerprint efforts. Other advances include graphics software to assist sketch artists in reconstructing suspect faces, computerized management of prison security, and remote sensing satellite systems for use in community corrections. Computers also make telemarketing fraud easier and have created crimes such as hacking, creating computer viruses, and infrastructure attacks. Controversies regarding privacy, government tracking of citizen behaviors, and access to public records will grow more intense as technology makes more information potentially available online. The software called Mosaic-2000 is a controversial software tool currently being used to compile profiles of students who might be deemed dangerous. 9 references and 4 resources on computer-related crimes